” Marketed as conversational agents, chatbots are becoming de facto digital therapists for many teenagers and young couples, for whom this technology now feels native. This raises the stakes for ensuring these tools are safe and governed by enforceable standards. Nearly half of young Americans ages 18 to 25 with mental health needs received no treatment last year — a gap that makes the appeal of 24/7, judgment-free companionship even stronger …. Some states are beginning to act. Illinois just passed a law barring licensed mental health professionals from using A.I. in therapeutic decision-making. But most teenager-chatbot interactions happen outside clinical settings, and they involve conversations about emotional and social well-being rather than about formal medical treatments.” “Chatbot Therapy for Teenagers —  Dangerous.” New York Times (August 27, 2025).